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Our Revolution Weighs in on to Historic Protest Vote in Washington State

By Homepage, Policy Fights

Our Revolution – America’s largest progressive political action organization – is proud to stand in solidarity with American Muslim Advancement Council, UFCW Local 3000, Seattle DSA, LTM and others who helped power the Washington Uncommitted campaign.

In Washington’s primary, Our Revolution went all-out to mobilize our 132,000 supporters by phone, text, and email.  We also teamed up with Dep. Mayo Rami Al-Kabra of Bothell, WA, to record a robodial message heard by tens of thousands of voters as they got ready to head to the polls. 

Because of our coalition’s collective work, almost 10% of WA primary voters cast a protest vote against President Biden’s complicity in Netanayhu’s brutal war targeting civilians in Gaza. 

And that means nationally, nearly half a million progressive primary voters across the country have used their ballots to send Biden a message:  Change course now on Gaza or cede the White House and the future of American democracy to Trump. 

We see that our pressure campaign for Peace, here and in key battleground states like Michigan Minnesota and NC, is working. President Biden is now calling for a temporary ceasefire and signaled willingness to condition aid to Israel

These are words – not action.  In order to shore up the progressive vote, Biden must secure a permanent ceasefire by any means necessary.   

And until he does, Our Revolution will continue to show up, speak out, and carry our pro-peace movement to Wisconsin and beyond. 

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SOTU: Our mobilization for peace is working. Now we’re bringing it to Washington state.

By Homepage, Policy Fights

From mobilizing more than 375,000 votes for Peace in Michigan and the Super Tuesday primaries to hearing President Biden call for a temporary “Ceasefire” and more aid for Gaza at the State of the Union — it’s been a big week in progressive politics.

Biden acknowledged in his speech Thursday that the 30,000 people killed in Gaza are primarily innocent civilians, and said he will be “working nonstop to establish an immediate ceasefire to last 6 weeks to get all the hostages released.. and build toward something more enduring.”

This is a start. But, while he’s looking to set up a pier on the coast of Gaza to deliver more food, medicine, and aid to the Palestinian people, what he did not announce was an end to U.S. support and weapons fueling Netanyahu’s War on Gaza.

That’s why we must keep up the drum beat for a true and lasting Peace. We need a permanent ceasefire ASAP.

The Uncommitted Vote is gaining momentum state by state — from Michigan to Minnesota to North Carolina, voters are sending a clear message to President Biden:  End  unconditional support for Netanyahu and broker a permanent ceasefire

Our grassroots supporters and activists have helped turnout more than 375,000 votes across the country in just over a week. And, this Tuesday is Washington state’s chance to be the next megaphone for Peace!

Our Revolution is mobilizing our 132,000 supporters in Washington to get out the vote for ‘Uncommitted Delegates’ to urge Biden to change course on Gaza and save lives.

As Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese told CalMatters this week, this shift is also necessary for Biden to realign with the young voters, progressives, and voters of color who won him the White House in 2020.

“Coming off the momentum generated in Michigan, we need to continue lifting up our voices and sending a clear message to President Biden—we need a ceasefire now,” Joseph told The Daily Beast. “If he doesn’t change course, he will be putting our Democracy at risk.”

Let’s maintain our momentum – adding more “Uncommitted” votes from Washington State to the overall tally will send a powerful message:  President Biden must realign with the values of the base or risk losing peace voters in November.

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Our Rev. Director calls on Biden to change course on Gaza

By Homepage, Policy Fights

Ahead of the Michigan primary, Our Revolution leader Joseph Geevarghese is speaking to the nation about why Biden must change course on Gaza to seek peace, save lives, and earn back trust from the coalition he’ll need to defeat Trump in November.

“The carnage in Gaza needs to end. The president must be a peacemaker. And, we must defeat Trump in November,” Geevarghese said. “It all starts with making progressive voices heard in the primaries in Michigan and beyond.”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL PIECE

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Our Revolution makes Michigan a megaphone for Peace

By Homepage, Policy Fights

Our Revolution is joined by Rashida Tlaib and former Congressman Andy Levin in this call to get progressives to ‘Vote Uncommitted’ as a push for Peace in the Michigan presidential primary on Feb. 27th.

We must send a clear message directly to the Biden campaign:  Change course NOW on Gaza or else risk losing Michigan to Trump in November.

If you’re in Michigan, pledge here to Vote Uncommitted on Tuesday!

 

“Our Revolution is throwing its weight behind the movement to vote Uncommitted in Michigan’s Democratic primary, seeking to pressure President Biden into changing his approach to the war between Israel and Hamas,” wrote the New York Times.

“It’s a strategic opportunity to send a signal to the president that he’s got to change course,” Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese told CBS News.

This effort intends to “realign with the values of his base, including young voters, voters of color, and Michigan’s significant Arab-American population,” reported John Nichols in The Nation.

“Months of protests and activism in cities across the country continue to be ignored, and this latest veto (of the UN ceasefire resolution) shows exactly why it’s imperative for voters to send a message to the Biden administration at the ballot box,” Joseph told The Hill.

“With just a few days until the Michigan primary vote, Biden’s blockade of the cease-fire resolution will only intensify the outrage and galvanize pro-peace voices to vote ‘uncommitted’ to make their voices heard,” Joseph said.

Our Revolution organizers are making calls, sending texts, and emailing 87,000 our members in Michigan — chip in so we can reach as many Michigan voters as possible.

The grassroots has already chipped in $12,000 for this project, but we need to raise $20,000. Can you make a donation now to help us close the gap? Thank you for being a voice for Peace! 

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Bernie Votes No on Israel Funding

By Homepage, Policy Fights

The Senate Democratic caucus just voted in support of $14 billion in funding for Israel. But not Bernie. Bernie stood firmly against continued U.S. support for Israel’s war in Gaza, which has killed more than 27,000 Palestinians.

AIPAC is a big reason why support for Netanyahu’s war is so strong on Capitol Hill and in the White House. And AIPAC has promised to spend $100 million against pro-Peace progressives like Bernie, Barbara Lee, Rashida Tlaib, Pramila Jayapal, AOC, and Summer Lee in 2024.

AIPAC donates to both corporate Democrats and insurrectionists, and they’re funded by right-wing billionaires and Trump mega-donors. We have beat big money before and we can do it again.

Chip in today to directly support our work to defend and expand the progressive caucus against $100,000,000 of AIPAC spending. We’re counting on your support!

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Getting Out the Vote in California

By Homepage, Progressive Champions

This week, Our Revolution kicked off the start of early voting in California by hosting a LIVE virtual GOTV event with U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee, Ro Khanna, and Ayanna Pressley, and congressional candidate Lateefah Simon!

Ballots are arriving in mailboxes, and we’re mobilizing to get out the vote on behalf of powerful progressive slates across the state with candidates for Congress, critical state and local offices, and Democratic committee seats to help transform the party.

We’ve endorsed a total of 95 progressive candidates in California, and we’re activating our grassroots army to power our massive GOTV operation – from calling and texting to knocking doors.

Our Revolution organizers and volunteers have already made 1 million voter contacts into California. Help us reach our goal of making another 1 million before voting ends on March 5th.

Barbara Lee told us Monday how much love she is feeling from the progressive movement in this final stretch of her campaign for Senate.

“We got the highest vote in the convention because of all of you, and we’re going to take the top two on March 5th because of this multiracial, multigenerational coalition,” she said.

“In the Senate, I’m going to take on the challenge of forging peace,” Barbara stated. She was the first to call for a ceasefire in this race because she understands the humanitarian catastrophe taking place in Gaza.

“Peace, poverty, climate, making billionaires pay their fair share — these are the progressive issues that need a bigger megaphone in the U.S. Senate,” she said. 

She reminded voters that they’ll need to vote for her twice: once to serve the remainder of the term left by the late Dianne Feinstein, and once to serve the full 6-year term beginning in 2025. (Yes, this is legal and correct!)

Our Revolution is also proud to join Barbara Lee in endorsing Lateefah Simon to succeed her as the Congresswoman from District 12.

Lateefah is a veteran organizer and nationally recognized advocate for civil rights and social justice. Having lost her husband, she’s committed to single-payer healthcare for all.

She is also a strong advocate for reducing military spending, putting peace first, and lifting up priorities of housing, reproductive justice, and more. 

As Barbara said, “Lateefah is from the community and for the community.”

“From her work supporting young women and trans youth to fighting to make public transit more affordable, she is a fierce advocate and proven leader,” Barbara continued. “It’s my honor to pass the blue baton to Lateefah.”

Lateefah told us Monday that during her 30 years of organizing, Barbara Lee has been a close mentor and she’s honored to follow in her footsteps.

“Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s legacy and decades of service to the people of our district are incomparable,” said Lateefah. “She has been a voice for moral clarity in Congress and boldly represented the progressive values of this district.”

HELP US ELECT BARBARA LEE, LATEEFAH SIMON, AND OUR PROGRESSIVE POWER SLATES ACROSS CALIFORNIA.

U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, who is chairing Barbara’s campaign, spoke to us Monday about the dire need for her strong antiwar voice in the Senate.

“Barbara Lee would make a difference on Day 1 to get equal human rights for Palestinians and make sure we don’t get into another war in the Middle East,” Ro said.

“She is a true fighter for transformative change — for racial justice and reproductive rights, for Medicare for All and housing policy and a living wage,” he continued.

Ro said there are still around 30% of voters still undecided in California about the Senate race. “I know that she can win this campaign. If we’re active, if we’re mobilized, she can be in the top two, and that difference is going to be all of us.”

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley was celebrating her birthday when she joined our GOTV Call Monday night to root on her mentor Barbara Lee.

Last time Ayanna was on our call was in September, when she announced her endorsement for Barbara Lee for Senate alongside fellow progressive Congress members like Cori Bush, Pramila Jayapal, Rashida Tlaib, Mark Pocan, and others. 

There’s a reason not only the grassroots but progressive leadership are all in for Barbara Lee:

“Barbara is the OG. She gets things done. She has courage and the strength of her convictions,” Ayanna said. “I’m so grateful for her example. She’s an icon, a mentor… she has blazed a trail! The whole country would benefit from a Senator Barbara Lee.”

Fatima Iqbal-Zubair serves as the Progressive Caucus Chair for the California Democratic Party – the largest progressive caucus in the country.

She knows the importance of mobilizing progressives – not just to vote, but to get active in getting candidates like Barbara across the finish line. 

“We need folks making calls, knocking on doors — that’s how we win, people power,” Fatima said. “Barbara came in first at the CA Democratic Convention because progressive delegates organized.”

“I support Barbara Lee for Senate because she is a true progressive who has always stood with the most marginalized,” she said. “We need progressives to turn out and work for Barbara and all the way down ballot as well.”

Organized people can beat organized money, and these races are going to come down to our grassroots power. Pitch in today to fuel our GOTV operation in 2024.

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Barbara Lee Shares Vision for Education

By Homepage, January 20, 2024, Progressive Champions

It was a packed house for Our Revolution’s Education for All Town Hall with Barbara Lee at the Bayview Opera House in San Francisco on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday.

Barbara laid out her vision for education in California and beyond — and her historic run for U.S. Senate. 

“There is no place for the profit motive in public education,” she said. “Education is about enriching our young people. We can’t let corporations and billionaires run our schools. It’s so important we elect progressives at all levels of government to push back.”

Barbara was joined on stage by Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese, CA Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and many local officials, educators, students, and parents active in the fight for educational justice.

Special thanks to Our Revolution’s local chapter, San Francisco Education Alliance for organizing this inspiring and successful event!

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2024 California Voter Guide

By Homepage, January 20, 2024, Progressive Champions

Local power matters. We refuse to let the far right take over school boards and critical down ballot seats that directly impact people’s lives.

Bernie Sanders founded Our Revolution to build power from the bottom up, and we’ve helped elect more than 1,000 progressives at every level of government. 

We know strong city and state leadership is the last bulwark for the working class against the rise of rightwing and corporate extremism — and that’s why we’re rolling out exciting new slates to build progressive power in 2024.

First, as you know, Our Revolution is working overtime to make sure Barbara Lee becomes the next U.S. Senator from California. This week, she snagged a key endorsement from McClatchy papers, including the Sacramento Bee. 

“Barbara Lee stood out from the rest. Her independence, her perseverance in fighting for the underdog and her life experiences set her apart,” the endorsement reads.

As Rep. Lee heads up our California endorsements, and with ballots due to hit mailboxes around Feb. 5th, Our Revolution is proud to announce our Sacramento County Progressive Power Slate! 

Sean Frame for CA Assembly (District 6)

Dr. Flo Cofer for Sacramento Mayor

Katie Valenzuela for Sacramento City Council (District 4)

Mai Vang for Sacramento City Council (District 8)

Roger Dickinson for Sacramento City Council (District 2

Murad “Moe” Sarama for Sacramento County Office of Education (Area 4)

Our slate of champions are taking on anti-union and pro-school privatization opponents and running on strong platforms of progressive change.

In addition to growing progressive influence on the California Assembly and building a progressive majority on Sacramento City Council, we are endorsing 13 progressives running for important seats on the Democratic Party of Sacramento County Central Committee:

District 1 – Andrés Ramos, David Lee Mandel, Mohammad “Mo” Kashmiri, Shirley Toy, Fatima Malik, and Tamika L’Ecluse

District 2 – Justin “J.D.” Garcia

District 3 – John D. Kincaid

District 4 – Chris Yatooma

District 5 – Lee “Marsha” Miller, Monica Madrid, Randa Allathkani, and Yassar Dahbour

Help Our Revolution elect progressive champions in Sacramento County by donating here.

In San Francisco, a group funded by corporate billionaires has pledged to spend $850,000 in the Democratic County Central Committee Candidates race opposing our slate of diverse, progressive leaders:

Assembly District 19 – Sandra Lee Fewer, Greg Hardeman, Natalie Gee, Connie Chan, Frances Hsieh, Gordon Mar, Leah LaCroix, Queena Chen, Hene Kelly, and Mano Raju

Assembly District 17 – Sydney Simpson, John Avalos, Michael Nguyen, Jeremy Lee, Peter Gallotta, Anita Martinez, Jane Kim, Joshua Rudy Ochoa, Sal Rosselli, Gloria Berry, Vick Chung, Patrick Bell, Adolfo Velasquez, and Kristin Hardy

These candidates have a real shot at winning and holding these seats and continuing to build a strong progressive bloc that gives our movement power and leverage to advance our progressive priorities against the political establishment.

We need to continue our transformation of the California Democratic Party from the inside out. Click here for more info about this slate on our new web page!

We are pleased to announce endorsements for Judges Michael Begert and Patrick Thompson of the San Francisco Superior Court.

Rightwing forces are trying to push tough-on-crime judges, and we need to support fair, impartial judges and preserve the independence of the San Francisco judiciary.

Our Revolution has endorsed a total of 95 candidates in California, and counting!

You have already met our slates in Sacramento – where we can elect Sean Frame to the CA Assembly and win a progressive majority on the City Council – and San Francisco, where we’ve endorsed two judges facing right-wing “tough on crime” opponents in addition to many candidates running to transform the party.

Now, we’re excited to introduce you to the slates of progressive candidates endorsed by Our Revolution in Alameda and Contra Costa counties and Southern California!

We are running a massive GOTV operation on the ground, on the phones, by mail and through voter to voter conversations. Chip in to help us build progressive power in California and beyond this election year.

In addition to Barbara Lee and Lateefah Simon heading up our Alameda County Progressive Power Slate, Our Revolution is proud to endorse two candidates for CA State Senate, Marisol Rubio (D-9) and Jovanka Beckles (D-7), and Jennifer Esteen for County Board of Supervisors (D-4).

Our slate of champions are taking on anti-union and pro-school privatization opponents and running on strong platforms of progressive change.

And, we have 30 progressives (!) running for important seats on the Democratic Party of Alameda County Central Committee in Districts 14, 16, 18, 20 and 24.

This is how we push back against the establishment and make the party more democratic, transparent, and responsive to the grassroots. 

Click here to visit our website to learn more about our entire Alameda County Progressive Power Slate!

In Contra Costa County, folks can vote for Jovanka Beckles and Marisol Rubio for State Senate because of overlapping districts, but they can also cast a ballot for Monica Wilson for CA Assembly in District 15.

These candidates have a real shot at winning and holding key seats to build movement power and leverage that advances our progressive priorities against the political establishment.

We also have great candidates seeking to do just that if elected to the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County Central Committee:

District 1:  Cameron Sasai, Jamin Pursell, Devin T. Murphy

District 2:  Marisol Rubio, ​Alexandria Marisol Rubio-Talavera

District 4:  Leslie Baxter, Michelle Simone, Ena Silva, Laura Patch

We need to continue our transformation of the California Democratic Party from the inside out. Click here for more info about this slate on our new web page!

Alex Mohajer is running for CA State Senate in the 37th Senate District, representing his hometown in Orange County. An LGBTQ+ civic leader, Alex will make history as the first openly gay legislator elected from Orange County and the first openly gay Iranian man elected anywhere in the world.

Our Revolution is endorsing Sade Elhawary for CA State Assembly (District 57). An educator, organizer, and foster parent, Sade is the eldest daughter of immigrants who is deeply committed to transforming underserved communities.

Our Revolution supports Tina McKinnor for CA State Assembly (District 61). She has served as Chief of Staff to several Assembly members and led the passage of over 100 bills, including historic legislation that gave the California legislative staff the right to unionize and collectively bargain for the first time in the state’s history.

Nithya Raman is the most progressive choice for LA City Council (District 4). Nithya has worked to remedy extreme poverty in India and started a grassroots volunteer program in her community in Los Angeles which reduced the number of unsheltered homeless in her district for the first time in years.

For Pasadena City Council, we’re endorsing Jonathan Horton (District 3) and Brandon Lamar (District 4), the former 3rd VP of the Pasadena NAACP and Chair of the Human Relations Commission of Pasadena.

As the 2024 elections get into full swing, we’d love to hear from you about candidates our members are excited about! Email our political team at political@ourrevolution.com to nominate candidates for Our Revolution’s endorsement.

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The Peace Town Hall

By Homepage, Policy Fights

On Thursday, U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee and Rashida Tlaib joined Our Revolution activists from around the country for a powerful discussion on the urgent need for a Ceasefire at our Peace for All Town Hall.

WATCH THE TOWN HALL HERE

Not only did we lift up the call for Peace, but we dug into real diplomatic and legislative solutions — including Bernie’s call to halt more than $10 billion in military funding for the rightwing Netanyahu government.

We hope you’ll add your voice to stand with Bernie and show the strength of our demand:  The U.S. government must stop using our tax money to fund this brutal war against the Palestinian people. Not one more dollar.

SIGN THE PETITION

U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee has been on the forefront calling for a Ceasefire and is one the most courageous anti-war advocates in all of Congress — just one of many reasons Our Revolution is working so hard to elect her to the Senate.

Jewish Insider mentioned Barbara’s “unequivocal ceasefire in Gaza” and how it’s garnering progressive support in their reporting on Our Revolution’s Peace for All Town Hall.

Barbara has actually visited refugee camps in the Middle East and nearly stepped on a cluster bomb in Lebanon — later, finding a bomb casing that read “Made in the USA.”

“I came to understand the dynamics and the United State’s role in the Middle East,” she said. “And, since then, wherever I am or what platform I have, I’m going to fight for peace and security for people no matter where they live — Gaza, Ukraine, and our own communities.”

“I believe in security, but I don’t believe in taking our resources and tax dollars to enrich arms dealers that are scamming the system and creating war,” Barbara told us.

We all know about Barbara’s lone vote in Congress against the authorization to give President Bush nearly unlimited war powers to go into the disastrous conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan — a vote that resulted in death threats at the time but was vindicated by history.

But Barbara is also the only candidate running for Senate in California who voted against the PATRIOT Act and drone strikes in Libya — and always votes to slash the bloated Pentagon budget. She also serves as co-chair of the Global Peace and Security Task Force in the Progressive Caucus.

Our Revolution was proud to announce our endorsement of U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib we’ve had her back since the beginning, and we’re going to fight against the dark money targeting her in her race for re-election in 2024.

Rashida is the daughter of Palestinian immigrants and one of our most fearless progressive leaders in Congress — always standing on principle for peace, people, and planet no matter the cost.

Rashida was recently censured by her rightwing colleagues in the House of Representatives for her outspoken advocacy for the Ceasefire — but she’s not backing down!

“This is about speaking truth to power no matter if our voice is shaking,” she told our Peace Town Hall on Thursday. “We can’t stop fighting to save lives. The answer to war crimes is not more war crimes.”

The Resolution for a Ceasefire introduced by Rep. Tlaib and Rep. Cori Bush has grown in support from 13 to more than 60 members of Congress and we must keep going.

Rashida emphasized the importance of outside organizing to pressure elected leaders to do the right thing. “Every time I see all of you out there — whether it’s rallying or standing outside district office or making calls to your reps — it all makes a difference and it just makes me cry,” she said, welling up with tears.

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Stand with the Pro-Peace Progressives

By Homepage, Progressive Champions, Take Action

Looking to the battles ahead in 2024, we know we must defeat the far right in the Presidential election while also electing more progressives to Congress — folks like Barbara Lee, who will be a powerful partner for Bernie Sanders in the Senate.

Our movement will also need to unify to defend progressive allies who have become a target of powerful lobbying groups hoping to oust them from office.

AIPAC is getting ready to spend over $100M to try to replace pro-peace members of Congress like Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Cori Bush, Summer Lee, Jamaal Bowman, and Ayanna Pressley — at a time when 66% of Americans want our government to work toward a ceasefire. 

Last week, the Republican-led House of Representatives voted to censure Rashida Tlaib – the only Palestinian-American in Congress – for her support for civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, which has earned her relentless slander from her colleagues in Washington and the press.

SIGN NOW to protect our hard-won progressive caucus from cynical dark money and rightwing attacks. The working class can’t afford to lose the power of these seats.

In September of 2001, Barbara Lee cast the lone “No” vote in Congress against a blank check for war in Afghanistan. She endured death threats, hate mail, and media slander for years. But history vindicated her.

Today, Barbara Lee is the only candidate for U.S. Senate in California calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Check out this LA Times article on why Barbara is the Peace Candidate in this race compared to her opponents Katie Porter and Adam Schiff.

VOLUNTEER FOR BARBARA LEE

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